Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-01-06
BIRD MIGRATION.
Interesting Points Concerning the Movements
Ofthe Feathered SOngsters.

Interesting Points Concerning the Movements
OF the Feathered Songsters.
In paper on the subject of "Bird Mi
grafton" in the st. James Gazette, based
on the seventh report of the committee
on migration appointed by the British
association, the writer states that on the
east coast, as though following some long
lost land line, the birds regularly take the
North sea along welldefined tracks. The
autumn immigrants fly from east to west
and northwest, their return in spring be-
ing conducted over exactly the same
lines, but of course in contrary direc-
ton. 1t will be noticed that the first
main flight occurs regularly about the
middle of October, add the second just as
regularly month later. It is pointed
out in the report, that with many excep-
tiOns, the earlier arrival refer to the
young birds. To return to the details of
the year. Among the more interesting
part OF the reports is the record of oc-
currences of rare and occasional v1si-
tants. This year there are few of either.
Chiefest among these are the Arctic blue
throat or desert chat at Spurn; the black
bellied dipper in Lincolnshire; the wood
chat, shrike, serin finch, and spoonful in
Norfolk, and the spotted eagle in North
cumberland. During the spring migra-
ton the swallow arrived at Spurn on the
8th of April; the swift on the goth of
April ian exceptionally early date); the
cuckoo on the 9Th of April, and the sea
blue birds of March, the wheat-ears, at
the Farnes on the 22d of February. The
bird movements along the west coast of
England still continue to puzzle natural
jsts. It is we'll known that many of the
migratory birds from northern Europe,
from Iceland and Greenland and the
Faroes pass down the west coast of
Scotland; yet beyond this they leave no
trace along the northwest coast
of England proper. Mr.. Clark, who
has charge of this section, points now, as
| his predecessor did, to the great gap in
the return from Cumberland and West
mOreland and down to North Wales. It
is suggested that, from some unknown
cause, the migratory birds leave the Cum
| brian coast, striking across to the Isle of
Man, and thence returning to Wales.
! This, of course, leaves out of account
those birds which go on to Ireland. Why
this fairly-sheltered and food Astounding
strip of coast line is passed over is diff
cult to understand. There are few birds,
indeed (if any,, into the life history of
which migration does not enter. And as
termed "partially resident species"-such
as the redbreast, hedge sparrow, wren,
greenfnch, sparrow, bullfinch, yellowham-
mer, and others continued to be reported,
much light may in future years be thrown
upon these interesting species. On the
west coast this year the following rare
forms were observed: Black redstart,
white wagtail, gadwall, red-necked and
| gray phalarOpes, ruff, black tern, glucus
| gull and Leach's petrol; while the alb
| sence is reported of the woodcock, gold
| crest and shOrt-eared owl. This, as al
ready remarked, can not be written of
the wOodcock during the present year, as
the birds have appeared here, as they did
last year on the coast, in almost UMPIRE
cedented numbers. The general charac-
terlstics of the bird movements of 1885
may be set down as follows: The migra-
ton was compressed, the brushes" being
great numerically, but 'shOrt and sharp"
In spring the thrush family showed in
quantity, feldfares being esq ecially num-
erous. The prevailing winds were easterly
| and southeasterly, these being continuous,
In autumn the general results were some
what similar. Prior to the middle of
October the migratory waves were but
slight at any of the stations. From then,
however, to the middle of November great
rushes took place. A remarkable incident
was noted at the Isle OF Man in November.
This was cross migration of woodcocks.
Birds were passing in directly opposite
observation-disclosures being equally favor
able, and the migrants striking the lights
on the opposite sides of the lantern. The
committee have now collected vast mass
of material; so that already they are able
to draw fairly definite conclusions as to
the lines of fight of the migratory birds
round our coast.
rpUCIT II C1TTO>- N-ODrc,